ARTISTS

Orchestra Bamberger Symphoniker

PROFILE


The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra was established in 1946 by refugee musicians from Prague’s German Philharmonic Orchestra and from Carlsbad and Silesia. Proud guardians of Germany’s symphonic tradition, the Bambergers soon laid the foundations for an unrivalled global reputation and became the country’s most-travelled orchestra. Today they enjoy the status of ‘Bavaria’s Cultural Ambassadors’. 'Alongside the Classical and Romantic repertoire, the Orchestra pays special attention to contemporary music - premieres of newly commissioned works are a constant feature of its programmes.
 
The Orchestra’s first Principal Conductor was Joseph Keilberth, who kept the position until his death in 1968; he was succeeded by James Loughran and the late Horst Stein, who in 1996 was appointed Honorary Conductor for Life. The first Honorary Conductor had been Eugen Jochum, the Orchestra’s mentor for several decades and perhaps the most distinguished of the many leading conductors and composers who have directed the Bambergers and made distinctive contributions to the Orchestra’s sonic profile – the list is long and reads like a who’s who of modern music. Herbert Blomstedt, too, has enjoyed a close relationship with the Orchestra since being named Honorary Conductor in 2006. From the start of the 2010/2011 season, they are joined by Robin Ticciati as Principal Guest Conductor.
 
Englishman Jonathan Nott became Principal Conductor in January 2000 and since then he has won enormous acclaim for his work with the Orchestra, both in Germany and abroad. Known for his committed support for contemporary music, he has led the Orchestra on successful visits to the world’s top festivals, including Edinburgh, Salzburg, Lucerne, St. Petersburg, Beijing, London, as well as to New York’s Lincoln Center, and they have made extended tours throughout Europe and in South America and Japan. The achievements of Jonathan Nott’s artistic partnership with the Orchestra have won great recognition at home and internationally and are documented in an extensive series of commercial CD releases. In 2003 the Bambergers were accorded the rank of State Orchestra and since 2005 the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Bavarian State Philharmonic has been a charitable foundation.

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